Silva

Silva, da Silva, and de Silva are surnames of Portuguese or Galician origin which are widespread in the Portuguese-speaking countries  including Brazil. The name is derived from Latin silva ("forest" or "woodland"). It is the family name of the House of Silva.

The name is widespread in Galician-speaking regions of Spain (mostly in Galicia) and even more so in regions of the former Portuguese Empire in the Americas (being the most common surname in Brazil), in Africa and Asia, notably in India and Sri Lanka. It is also quite common in Spanish-speaking Latin America.

Movement of people has led to the name being used in many places. Due to emigration from Portuguese-speaking countries, Silva (and the variants Da Silva and De Silva) is the fifth most common surname in the French department of Val-de-Marne, outside Paris, and it was the 19th most common family name given to newborns between 1966 and 1990 in France.

Notable people and characters with these names include the following.

Actors

 * Adele Silva (born 1980), British actress
 * António Silva (actor) (1886–1971), Portuguese actor
 * Deepani Silva, Sri Lankan actress
 * Douglas Silva (born 1988), Brazilian actor
 * Fernando Ramos da Silva (1967–1987), Brazilian actor
 * Frank Silva (1950–1995), American actor and set dresser
 * Freddie Silva (1938–2001), Sri Lankan actor, comedian and playback singer
 * Gertrudes Rita da Silva (1825–1888), Portuguese actor
 * Henry Silva (1926–2022), American actor
 * Howard da Silva (1909–1986), American actor and director
 * Sadiris Master (died 1958), Sri Lankan Sinhalese actor, musician
 * Hilarion "Larry" Silva (1937–2004), Filipino actor, comedian and politician
 * Leena de Silva (born 1936), Sri Lankan Sinhala film, television, and theater actress
 * Leslie Silva (born 1968), American actress
 * Nicole da Silva (born 1981), Australian actress
 * Palitha Silva (born 1967), Sri Lankan actor
 * Paulo Rogério da Silva (born 1970), Brazilian actor also known as Gero Camilo
 * Rafael L. Silva (born 1994), Brazilian-American actor
 * Roy de Silva (1937–2018), Sri Lankan Sinhalese actor and film director
 * Sanjit De Silva (born 1976), Sri Lankan American actor and director
 * Simone Silva (1928–1957), Egyptian-born French film actress, also briefly in British films

Musicians

 * Da Silva (born 1976), French singer, songwriter of Portuguese origin
 * Alan Silva (born 1939), American free jazz double bassist
 * Amancio D'Silva (1936–1996), Indian jazz guitarist and composer
 * Andrew Conrad De Silva, Sri Lankan Australian R&B and rock vocalist and instrumentalist
 * Dawn Silva, American funk vocalist
 * Deepal Silva (1967–2017), Sri Lankan Sinhalese playback singer and actor
 * Desmond de Silva (1944–2022), Sri Lankan vocalist
 * Francisco Manuel da Silva (1795–1865), Brazilian composer and music professor
 * Henry Silva (1926–2022), Cape Verdean band leader/singer
 * Humberto Rodríguez Silva (1908–1952), Cuban composer and judge
 * Horace Silver (1928–2014), American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader
 * Luis Silva (1943–2008), American Tejano songwriter
 * Lúcio Silva da Souza, known artistically as Silva, Brazilian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
 * Malcolm "Mac" Silva (1947–1989), Aboriginal Australian musician, who appeared in the film Country Outcasts
 * Rui da Silva (born 1968), Portuguese DJ
 * Stuart de Silva (born, Sri Lankan Australian jazz pianist
 * Virajini Lalithya de Silva (born 1973), Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist
 * Vivian Wilson da Silva Fernandes (born 1990), Indian Rapper from Mumbai, India, also known as DIVINE
 * Vivienne de Silva Boralessa (1930–2017), Sri Lankan vocalist (Buddhist devotional music)
 * Yohani Diloka de Silva, Sri Lankan singer, songwriter, rapper, music producer, YouTuber and businesswoman, also known as Yohani

Painters and sculptors

 * António Carvalho de Silva Porto (1850–1893), Portuguese naturalist painter
 * Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (Diego Velázquez), Spanish painter
 * Francis Augustus Silva (1835–1886), American painter
 * Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920–2003), Portuguese sculptor
 * Marilyn da Silva (born 1952), American metalsmith
 * Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908–1992), Portuguese painter
 * William Posey Silva (1859–1948), American painter

Writers

 * First name
 * Silva Kaputikyan (1919–2006), Armenian poet, writer, academician and public activist


 * Surname
 * Alfreda de Silva (1920–2001), Sri Lankan Sinhala poet, journalist, and screenwriter
 * António Diniz da Cruz e Silva (1731–1799), Portuguese heroic-comic poet
 * António José da Silva (1705–1739), eighteenth-century Brazilian Converso playwright known as "The Jew"
 * Arménio Adroaldo Vieira e Silva (Arménio Vieira) (born 1941), Portuguese journalist
 * Baltasar Lopes da Silva, Cape Verdean writer
 * Daniel Silva (novelist), American author
 * John de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese playwright
 * José Gabriel Lopes da Silva (Gabriel Mariano), Cape Verdean poet and essayist
 * Joseph Silva, a pseudonym of American author Ron Goulart
 * Luís Filipe Silva, Portuguese writer
 * Nihal De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese novelist
 * Sugathapala de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese dramatist, novelist, radio play producer, and translator
 * Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese novelist
 * Wilson da Silva, Australian/Portuguese science writer, editor and filmmaker

Other arts

 * Ena de Silva, re-established Sri Lanka's batik industry
 * Ingrid Silva, Brazilian ballet dancer
 * Maria José Marques da Silva, Portuguese architect
 * Minnette de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese architect

Historical figures

 * Bernardo Peres da Silva, the first and only native Goan governor of Portuguese India
 * Lucius Flavius Silva, Roman governor of Judea who crushed Jewish resistance at Masada in 73 AD
 * José Joaquim da Silva Xavier (1746–1792), known as Tiradentes, Brazilian independence leader
 * Mariana de Silva-Bazán y Sarmiento (1739-1784), Spanish aristocrat, writer, painter, and translator
 * Pedro da Silva, first post courier of Canada (17th–18th century)
 * Ruy Gómez de Silva (1516–1573), nobleman and cousin of Philip II of Spain

Media

 * Chantal Da Silva, Canadian journalist working in the United Kingdom
 * Dayananda de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese radio journalist at Radio Ceylon
 * João Silva (photographer), South African photographer
 * Martin Silva, Portuguese-Canadian politician and radio personality
 * Sampath Lakmal de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese journalist specializing in defense issues
 * Tatiana Silva Braga Tavares, Belgian model, Miss Belgium 2005
 * Tom Silva, general contractor on the PBS show This Old House
 * Thotawatte Don Manuel Titus de Silva, known as Titus Thotawatte, Sri Lankan director and editor
 * Yohani Diloka de Silva, Sri Lankan singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and YouTuber

Political and military figures

 * Alexander Edmund de Silva Wijegooneratne Samaraweera Rajapakse (1866–1937), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician
 * Amaro Silva, municipal politician in Winnipeg (Manitoba), Canada
 * Aníbal Cavaco Silva, President of Portugal
 * Anthony Emmanuel Silva, Sri Lankan Tamil Member of Parliament
 * António Maria da Silva, Portuguese politician
 * Artur da Costa e Silva, Brazilian military officer and politician
 * Asoka de Silva, 9th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
 * Asoka de Silva, 42nd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
 * Benedita da Silva, Brazilian politician
 * C. A. Mike N. Silva (1933-2019), Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army
 * Charles Percival de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician
 * Charles de Silva Batuwantudawe (1877–1940), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician
 * Chitta Ranjan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer, Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, 40th Attorney General of Sri Lanka, 39th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka
 * Claude Henry de Silva, Singaporean lawyer
 * Colvin Reginald de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Trotskyist Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs
 * Crishantha de Silva, 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Army
 * Desmond Lorenz de Silva, Sri Lankan Briton lawyer, former United Nations Chief War Crimes Prosecutor in Sierra Leone
 * D. G. Albert de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament
 * Duleep de Silva Wickramanayake, Sri Lankan Sinhala army major-general
 * Duminda Silva, Sri Lankan politician
 * Estanislau da Silva, East Timorese politician and member of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor
 * Eunice Silva, Cape Verdean civil engineer and politician
 * Francisco de Paula Vieira da Silva de Tovar, 1st Viscount of Molelos, Portuguese politician
 * Frank de Silva (born 1935), Inspector-General of Sri Lanka Police from 1993–1995
 * Fredrick de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and politician
 * Gardiye Punchihewage Amaraseela Silva, 34th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
 * George E. de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and politician
 * G.E.S. de Silva, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force
 * G. H. De Silva, 13th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army
 * Golbery do Couto e Silva, Brazilian politician
 * G. P. S. de Silva, 40th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
 * George Reginald de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician
 * Gratian Silva (1933–2015), Sri Lankan Sinhala army major general
 * H. A. Silva, 11th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
 * Hélio José da Silva Lima (born 1960), Brazilian politician known as Hélio José
 * Herman Leonard de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and diplomat, 12th Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York
 * Israel Pinheiro da Silva, Brazilian politician and engineer
 * Jaime Silva, former Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Portugal
 * Jayatilleke De Silva (1938–2019), Sri Lankan Sinhala Communist guerrilla
 * Jim Silva, American politician
 * José Albino Silva Peneda, Portuguese politician
 * José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva, Brazilian activist
 * K. L. A. Ranasinghe Silva, 41st Surveyor General of Sri Lanka
 * Leopold James de Silva Seneviratne, Sri Lankan Sinhala civil servant
 * Lucien Macull Dominic de Silva (1893–1962), Sri Lankan Sinhala member of the Privy Council
 * Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias, Brazilian military commander
 * Luís da Silva Mouzinho de Albuquerque, Portuguese politician
 * Luis Roberto da Sliva (born 1977), East Timorese politician
 * Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, current President of Brazil
 * Lydia Méndez Silva, Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party
 * Makalandage Johnny Terrence De Silva Gunawardena, 8th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force
 * Manikku Wadumestri Hendrick de Silva, 26th Attorney General of Sri Lanka
 * Manuel António Vassalo e Silva, Portuguese politician
 * Manuel Carvalho da Silva, coordinator of the Portuguese Labour union federation
 * Marina Silva, Brazilian environmentalist and politician
 * Mario Silva, Canadian politician
 * Osmund de Silva, 13th Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police
 * Pandikoralalage Sunil Chandra De Silva, 35th Attorney General of Sri Lanka
 * Patrick de Silva Kularatna, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician and educationist
 * Pettagan Dedreck Weerasingha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament
 * Mervin Rex de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese fighter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II
 * Mervyn Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician
 * Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament for Galle Electoral District
 * Nilenthi Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician, Sri Lankan Minister of Transport
 * Peduru Hewage William de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Trotskyist politician, Cabinet Minister of Industries and Fisheries 1956–1959
 * Piyal De Silva, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy
 * Piyal Nishantha de Silva (born 1970), Sri Lankan Sinhala Cabinet Minister
 * Ranjith de Silva, Sri Lanka Light Infantry major-general
 * Rupika De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhala women's rights and peace activist
 * Sampathawaduge Stephen Anthony Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament
 * Sarath N. Silva, 41st Chief Justice of Sri Lanka
 * Shan Wijayalal De Silva, 5th Chief Minister of Southern Province, Sri Lanka
 * Sharon Quirk-Silva (born 1962), American politician
 * Shavendra Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese general and diplomat
 * Sonia Silva, American politician
 * Stephen de Silva Jayasinghe (1911–1977), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician
 * Thakur Artha Niranjan Joseph De Silva Deva Aditya (born 1948), Sri Lankan Briton politician
 * T. N. De Silva, former Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
 * Vincent Stuart de Silva Wikramanayake (1876–1953), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician
 * Wilmot Arthur de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician, veterinary surgeon, and philanthropist, Minister of Health in the second State Council of Ceylon
 * Walwin Arnold de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese civil servant

Religion

 * Saint Beatrice of Silva, Portuguese Dominican nun
 * Clarence Richard Silva, United States Catholic bishop
 * Hezekiah da Silva, Jewish author born in Livorno, Italy, and teacher in Jerusalem
 * Blessed João Mendes de Silva (Amadeus of Portugal), Portuguese Hieronymite and later Franciscan
 * Kanishka de Silva Raffel (born 1964), Sri Lankan Australian Anglican priest, 12th Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney
 * Lynn de Silva, Sri Lankan Methodist theologian
 * Maxwell Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhala Catholic priest, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo
 * Raúl Silva Henríquez, Chilean cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
 * Robert D'Silva, Pakistani Catholic priest

Scholars

 * Agostinho da Silva (1906–1994), Portuguese philosopher
 * Arjuna Priyadarsin de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese gastroenterologist
 * Chandra Richard de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese academic, historian, and author
 * Clarence de Silva, Canadian engineer
 * Dudley Kenneth George de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese educationist
 * Harendra de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese pediatrician
 * H. Janaka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese physician
 * Jayathi De Silva, Sri Lankan scientist and model
 * Jorge Nuno Silva (born 1956), Portuguese mathematician
 * José Sebastião e Silva, Portuguese mathematician
 * Kingsley De Silva, Sri Lankan obstetrician and gynaecologist
 * Kingsley Muthumuni de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese academic, historian, and author
 * Kongahage Anslem Lawrence de Silva (born 1940), Sri Lankan Sinhala biologist and herpetologist
 * Maria Nazareth F. da Silva, Brazilian zoologist
 * Maurício Rocha e Silva (1910–1983), Brazilian physician
 * Mohan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese surgeon
 * Moisés Silva, Cuban-born American professor of biblical studies
 * Nalin de Silva, Sri Lankan Scholar
 * Primus Thilakaratne de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese senior consultant physician
 * Ranjith Premalal De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese professor of agricultural engineering
 * Sammu Raghu De Silva Chandrakeerthy, Sri Lankan Sinhalese engineering professor
 * Vajiranath Lakshman De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese doctor, founder of the Saukyadana Movement
 * Alcino J. Silva, Portugal-born American neuroscientist

Sports
Many people on this list are not generally known as Silva.

Auto racing

 * Ayrton Senna da Silva, also known as Ayrton Senna or Senna, Brazilian Formula One triple world champion
 * Ollie Silva, American automobile racer.

Basketball

 * Chris Silva (Chris Silva Obame Correia), Gabonese player
 * Filipe da Silva, Portuguese player
 * Maria Paula Silva, Brazilian player
 * Oscar da Silva (born 1998), German basketball player
 * Paulo César da Silva or Giant Silva (born 1962), Brazilian national player, later wrestler and mixed martial artist
 * Tristan da Silva (born 2001), Brazilian-German basketball player

Beach volleyball

 * Jackie Silva, Brazilian beach volleyball player
 * Paulo Emilio Silva, Brazilian beach volleyball player

Cricket

 * Alankara Asanka Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Amal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Amila Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Aravinda De Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer
 * Aruna de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer
 * Ashen Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer
 * Ashley de Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer
 * Asiri de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Asoka de Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer
 * Bertie de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer who played for the University of Oxford
 * Chalana de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Chamara Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer
 * Chamod Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Chirantha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Damitha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Dandeniya Premachandra de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer
 * Dedunu Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardena, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Deva Lokesh Stanley de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese ODI cricketer
 * Dhananjaya Maduranga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Elle Hennadige Shadeep Nadeeja Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer who played for United Arab Emirates
 * Emmanuel Nadhula de Silva Wijeratne, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Ganga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese woman cricketer
 * Gayashan Ranga de Silva Munasinghe, Sri Lankan Italian cricketer
 * Gihan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Ginigalgodage Ramba Ajit de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Granville Nissanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Hanthana Dewage Rashmi Sewandi Silva (born 2000), Sri Lankan Sinhala cricketer for Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club
 * Hasitha Lakmal de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Hendahewage Sanjeewa Gayan Sameera Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer for the United Arab Emirates
 * Janith Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Jayan Kaushal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer
 * Joshua Da Silva, Trinidadian cricketer, test match wicket keeper/batsman for the West Indies cricket team
 * Kariyawasam Thantrige Gayan Thilanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Bahraini cricketer
 * Karunakalage Sajeewa Chanaka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Kasun de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Kelaniyage Jayantha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Lanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer
 * Liyana de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Malinga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Mangamuni Gamini Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer
 * Manelker De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Milroy Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Muthumuni Raween Lakshitha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Nilakshi de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Nilan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Patiharamada Juwan Hewage Sanath Ranjan Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Pinnaduwage Chaturanga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Pradeep de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Ramindu de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Richard Martin M. de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Rodrigo Hennedige Sanjeewa Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Roshan Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Roshen Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer
 * Roy Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Rumesh Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Sammu Nirwantha Thikshila de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Sampathwaduge Amal Rohitha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer
 * Sanath de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Senal de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Shaluka Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Sripal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * T. Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Warshamannada Pradeep de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Weddikkara Ruwan Sujeewa de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer
 * Woshantha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Yakupiti Gayan Asanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer
 * Yohan de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer

Brazil

 * Male international players
 * Afonso Guimarães da Silva, Afonsinho
 * Alexandre da Silva Mariano
 * Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva, Alexandre Pato
 * Cleonésio Carlos da Silva
 * Dani Alves, Daniel Alves da Silva
 * Danilo Luiz da Silva, Danilo
 * Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva
 * Gilberto Silva
 * Gilberto da Silva Melo
 * Giovanni Silva de Oliveira
 * Heurelho da Silva Gomes, Heurelho Gomes
 * Jackson Coelho Silva
 * João Alves de Assis Silva, Jô
 * Jorge Luís Andrade da Silva
 * José Roberto da Silva Júnior, Zé Roberto
 * Leônidas da Silva
 * Lucimar Ferreira da Silva, Lúcio
 * Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva, Lucas Moura
 * Luiz Alberto da Silva Oliveira
 * Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior, Marcelo
 * Mauro Silva, Mauro da Silva Gomes
 * Nélson de Jesus Silva, Dida (footballer born 1973)
 * Neymar, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
 * Nilmar Honorato da Silva, Nilmar
 * Oscarino Costa Silva
 * Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha, Roberto Carlos
 * Rodrygo Silva de Goes
 * Sean de Silva
 * Thiago Emiliano da Silva, Thiago Silva
 * Willian, Willian Borges da Silva


 * Female international players
 * Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva
 * Kátia, Kátia Cilene Teixeira da Silva
 * Marta (footballer), Marta Vieira da Silva
 * Thaís Helena da Silva


 * Others
 * Adaílton da Silva Santos
 * Adriano Pereira da Silva
 * Aílton Gonçalves da Silva
 * Airton Ferreira da Silva (Airton Pavilhão)
 * Alan Osório da Costa Silva
 * Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Villela
 * André Luiz Silva do Nascimento
 * Antônio da Silva (footballer)
 * David da Silva
 * Deivson Rogério da Silva (Bobô (footballer, born 1985))
 * Diego da Silva Costa
 * Elisérgio da Silva (Serginho Baiano)
 * Elpídio Silva
 * Fábio da Silva Alves
 * Fábio do Nascimento Silva
 * Fábio Ferreira da Silva
 * Fábio Pereira da Silva
 * Hugo Veloso Oliveira Silva
 * Jefferson Teixeira Silva (Jefferson Luis)
 * Johnathan Aparecido da Silva
 * José Fábio da Silva
 * Josualdo Alves da Silva Oliveira
 * Lauro Antonio Ferreira da Silva
 * Lucenilde Pereira da Silva
 * Luciano José Pereira da Silva
 * Luís Cláudio Carvalho da Silva
 * Manoel de Oliveira da Silva Júnior
 * Márcio Pereira da Silva
 * Marcos Roberto da Silva Barbosa
 * Marcus Lima Silva
 * Michael Anderson Pereira da Silva
 * Otacilio Jales da Silva
 * Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva
 * Rafael Pereira da Silva, footballer, born 1980
 * Rafael Pereira da Silva, footballer, born 1990
 * Renan Teixeira da Silva
 * Sérgio Severino da Silva
 * Tiago Silva dos Santos
 * Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva
 * Vitor Silva Assis de Oliveira Júnior (Vitor Júnior)
 * Víctor Domingo Silva
 * Wender Coelho da Silva (Teco (footballer))
 * Wéverton Pereira da Silva
 * William da Silva Barbosa

Croatia

 * Eduardo da Silva

England

 * Jay Dasilva

Equatorial Guinea

 * Emmanuel Danilo Clementino Silva (Danilo Clementino)

France

 * Damien Da Silva, French footballer

Paraguay

 * Anthony Domingo Silva
 * Paulo da Silva

Portugal

 * Adrien Silva
 * André Miguel Valente da Silva (André Silva)
 * Anthony da Silva
 * António Conceição da Silva Oliveira
 * Bernardo Silva, Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva
 * Carlos da Silva
 * Jose Bosingwa Da Silva
 * Daniel da Silva Soares
 * David Mendes da Silva
 * Edson Rolando Silva Sousa
 * Eusébio da Silva Ferreira
 * José Carlos da Silva José
 * José Manuel da Silva Fernandes (Zé Manel (footballer))
 * João Nuno da Silva Cardoso Lucas (João Lucas)
 * João Paulo da Silva Gouveia Morais
 * José Paulo Sousa da Silva
 * João Pedro da Silva Pereira (João Pereira (Portuguese footballer))
 * Lourenço da Silva (Luís Lourenço)
 * Marco Silva, Marco Alexandre Saraiva da Silva
 * Mário Silva (footballer)
 * Paulo da Silva (Paulo César da Silva Barrios)
 * Paulo Monteiro (Paulo Armando da Silva Monteiro)
 * Ricardo Emídio Ramalho Silva

Spain

 * David Silva, David Josué Jiménez Silva
 * Donato Gama da Silva
 * Fernando Macedo da Silva

Sri Lanka

 * Anton Silva
 * Dillon De Silva (born 2002), Sinhala footballer

Uruguay

 * Bruno Silva
 * Darío Silva
 * Martín Silva
 * Néstor Silva
 * Pablo Silva
 * Santiago Silva

Managers and referees

 * Carlos Silva Valente, Portuguese football referee
 * Fred Silva, United States American-football official
 * Telê Santana da Silva, Brazilian football manager
 * Vanderlei Luxemburgo da Silva, Brazilian football coach

Martial arts

 * Anderson Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Antônio Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Assuerio Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Edinanci Silva, Brazilian judoka
 * Erick Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Giant Silva (Paulo César da Silva), Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Jay Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Jussier da Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Natália Falavigna da Silva, Brazilian taekwondo athlete
 * Thiago Silva (fighter), Brazilian mixed martial artist
 * Wanderlei Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist

Track and field

 * Adhemar da Silva, Brazilian athlete
 * Anísio Silva, Brazilian triple jumper
 * Carlos Silva (hurdler) (born 1974), Portuguese hurdler
 * Fábio Gomes da Silva, pole vaulter
 * Fátima Silva, Portuguese long-distance runner
 * Germán Silva, Mexican long distance runner
 * Jani Chathurangani Chandra Silva Hondamuni, Sri Lankan Sinhalese sprinter
 * Joaquim Silva (athlete), Portuguese long-distance runner
 * Joseildo da Silva, Brazilian long-distance runner
 * Osmiro Silva, Brazilian long-distance runner
 * Pedro da Silva (athlete), Brazilian decathlete
 * Robson da Silva, Brazilian sprinter
 * Rui Silva (athlete), Portuguese Olympic athlete
 * Vânia Silva, Portuguese hammer thrower

Other sports

 * Carlos Silva (baseball), Venezuelan baseball player
 * Chandrika de Silva, Sri Lankan badminton player
 * Cherantha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese swimmer
 * Daniel Silva (golfer), Portuguese golfer
 * Eden Giselle Silva, Sri Lankan Briton tennis player
 * Emanuel Silva, Portuguese flatwater canoeist
 * Eurico Rosa da Silva, Brazilian-born Canadian jockey
 * Fabiola da Silva, Brazilian inline skater
 * Frederico Ferreira Silva, Portuguese tennis player
 * Garth da Silva, New Zealand boxer
 * Inoka Rohini de Silva, Sri Lankan badminton player
 * Jamie Silva, American football safety
 * Jason Silva, American rock climber
 * John da Silva, New Zealand wrestler and boxer
 * Luis Cardoso da Silva, Brazilian paracanoeist
 * Luís Mena e Silva, Portuguese horse rider
 * Neuza Silva, Portuguese tennis player
 * Raquel Silva, Brazilian volleyball player
 * Roberto Silva Nazzari, Uruguayan chess master
 * Rogério Dutra Silva, Brazilian tennis player

Other professions

 * A. E. de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese businessman
 * Eugenia Silva, Spanish model
 * Sir Ernest de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese business magnate, banker, and barrister
 * George David Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Australian mass murderer
 * João Marques Silva, Portuguese researcher
 * José da Silva Pais, Portuguese soldier
 * Kamaj Silva (born 1983), Sri Lankan Sinhala entrepreneur
 * Moises Teixeira da Silva, Brazilian robber
 * Palmira Silva, British murder victim
 * Riccardo Silva (born 1970), Italian businessman
 * Quentin D'Silva, Pakistani businessman
 * Steven Silva, American chef
 * Thakurartha Devadithya Guardiyawasam Lindamulage Nalin Kumara de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese promoter of pseudoscience
 * Jean Charles da Silva e de Menezes, known as Jean Charles de Menezes, Brazilian man killed by British police in 2005

Fictional characters

 * Silva (Shaman King), a character in Shaman King
 * Silva, a mystical speaking necklace in GARO
 * Raoul Silva, the antagonist of the James Bond film Skyfall
 * Rose Da Silva, Christopher Da Silva and Sharon Da Silva, fictional characters in the film Silent Hill
 * Kristen De Silva, protagonist in Child's Play 3, played by Perrey Reeves
 * Noelle Silva, a character in Black Clover
 * Octavio Silva, a playable character known as Octane in Apex Legends